“But they are useless. They can only give you answers. ”,
Pablo Picasso, about computers

DYNAMO - Dynamic Framework for Quantum Optimal Control

Updated! v1.2, May 2011

For paving the way to novel applications in quantum simulation, computation, and technology,
increasingly large quantum systems have to be steered with high precision. It is a typical task
amiable to numerical optimal control to turn the time course of pulses, i.e. piecewise constant
control amplitudes, iteratively into an optimised shape. Here, we present the first comparative
study of optimal control algorithms for a wide range of finite-dimensional applications. We focus on
the most commonly used algorithms: grape methods which update all controls concurrently, and
Krotov-type methods which do so sequentially. Guidelines for their use are given and open research
questions are pointed out. — Moreover we introduce a novel unifying algorithmic framework,
dynamo (dynamic optimisation platform) designed to provide the quantum-technology community
with a convenient matlab-based toolset for optimal control. In addition, it gives researchers in
optimal-control techniques a framework for benchmarking and comparing new proposed algorithms
to the state-of-the-art. It allows for a mix-and-match approach with various types of gradients,
update and step-size methods, and subspace choices.

Attribution

If you use QLib in your research, please add an attribution in the form of the following reference:S. Machnes, quant-ph/0708.0478

Long-term vision

When we were young, we did arithmetic. Now we use calculators.
When we were a little older, we did integrals and multiplied matrices. Now we use Matlab, Mathematica and Maple

It is my hope that within the foreseeable future, we will have the tools to quickly go through the mechanics
of Quantum Information calculations to concentrate on the creative, the novel and the enlightening.

For the community, by the community

My hope is that QLib would evolve into a group effort, maintained, natured and grown by the Quantum Information community, for the benefit of us all.
For that purpose, I have licensed QLib under the GNU Public License, which basically means everybody is free to
use QLib, and should release any enhancements to the package back to the community (of course code used to conduct the research can remain private).
For more information, see here.